Box Score
MOORHEAD, Minn. -- Despite a double-double from junior Megan Strese, the Minnesota State University Moorhead women's basketball team fell short against Minnesota-Duluth on Friday, dropping a 65-50 decision to the Bulldogs in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action at Alex Nemzek Hall in Moorhead, Minn.

The Dragons fell to 5-3 overall and 2-2 in the NSIC with the loss, while UMD improved to 6-2 overall and 3-1 in the league.

Strese had 10 points and 14 rebounds in the game for MSUM. Junior Morgan Zabel had 12 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two steals for MSUM, while senior Kaycee Charette had 10 points and two steals.

Cold shooting doomed the Dragons in the loss, as they shot just 23.8 percent (15-of-63) from the field. Their defense did hold UMD to 33.3 percent shooting (19-of-57) but UMD had a 52-42 edge on the glass.

MSUM opened the game on a 5-0 run over the first 3:15, thanks to a Charette three and a basket by junior Haley Thomforde. However, the Dragons would not score for the next six minutes until Zabel hit two free throws with 10:46 left in the half.

Despite the cold spell, MSUM held a 7-4 lead as the Dragon defense forced UMD to go 0-of-17 from the field to start the game.

Eventually, both teams warmed up from the field a little, and a 5-0 spurt to end the half helped the Bulldogs take a 24-19 lead into halftime.

The Bulldogs finished with just 17.6 percent shooting in the first half (6-of-34). The Dragons also forced 11 turnovers. MSUM shot just 19.4 percent (6-of-31) in the first half. Strese led the way with six points and 12 rebounds in the opening half.  Charette added five points.

Thomforde hit a three-pointer to open the second half to bring MSUM within 24-22. After the Bulldogs pushed the lead to eight, Zabel hit a three-pointer with 15:43 left to cut the gap to 33-28.

However, the Bulldogs scored nine straight -- which proved to be a pivotal run -- to stretch the lead to 42-28. MSUM was unable to close the gap to less than double digits the rest of the way.

Thomforde added eight points and two assists, while Zabel and senior Marisa Yernatich shared the team lead with Zabel with three assists.

MSUM hosts St. Cloud State on Saturday at 4 p.m.

Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game: The Dragon loss tonight was only the second time in 11 meetings that Minnesota Duluth has defeated the Dragons dating back to the 2006-2007 season.

Note: Yernatich was honored at halftime of the men's game for setting the new career three-point record, which she accomplished last weekend at Mary.  Yernatich now has 153 three-pointers for her career. She is pictured below receiving the ball from Coach Karla Nelson.